USDA Names Trump Administration Appointees to the Virginia Farm Service Agency State Committee

Richmond, Va. - Jan. 14, 2026 - The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the appointment of five leaders in agriculture to serve on the Virginia USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committee.

Members of the FSA state committee are appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and, in support of the Trump Administration's Farmers First commitment, members of the FSA state committee are responsible for the oversight of farm programs and county committee operations, resolving program delivery appeals from the agriculture community, maintaining cooperative relations with industry stakeholders and keeping producers informed about current FSA programs.

Each FSA state committee is comprised of three to five members including a designated chairperson. The individuals appointed to serve on this committee for Virginia are:

Charles P. Shorter, Chair (Blacksburg) - Shorter owns and operates a family farm. He has six decades of experience in agricultural production, land stewardship, and farm business operations. He previously served on the Virginia FSA state committee.

James D. Jennings, Member (Chase City) - Jennings manages a tobacco and small grain farm in Mecklenburg County. He also oversees 1,200 acres of agricultural and timber land, plus rental properties.

Hunter B. Richardson, Member (Shacklefords) - Richardson owns and operates a diversified agribusiness where he raises livestock, row crops, and forestry products. He also manages wildlife conservation and hunting club leases.

Margaret Ann Smith, Member (Lexington) - Smith oversees a multi-state cattle marketing, procurement, grazing, backgrounding, and finishing operation. She is also involved in a sixth-generation beef cattle, hay, and grain operation. She is president of the Virginia Department of Agriculture Board, was previously appointed as vice chair and director of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors and is actively involved in numerous agricultural organizations in Virginia.

Steven Kyle Sturgis, Member (Eastville) - Sturgis manages a diversified operation that produces corn, soybeans, wheat, snap beans, and potatoes. He previously served as the field service director and sales representative for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation

"These individuals, selected by Secretary Rollins in partnership with key stakeholders in each state, are held in high regard in the agriculture industry and are entrusted to ensure FSA programs are delivered in a manner consistent with federal farm policy and in the best interest of all agricultural producers in their state," said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. "Their appointment to the FSA state committee is a testament to their standing in the industry and their dedication to the agriculture industry, rural America and President Trump's America First, Farmers First policies."

FSA helps America's farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.